MASTER'S DEGREE in YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (MA & online only)
Printer Friendly Format (pdf)
An estimated 17,000 organizations (e.g., 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts) currently serve more than 30 million young people, and national trends are moving away from focusing on problems and behavior correction, instead favoring a positive approach that focuses on developing the strengths of youth. The 36 credit master's degree program (MA) consists of 9 required core courses (25 credits), a Project or Internship experience totaling 2-6 credits, and 5-9 credits of electives. Core courses offered within the program include eight 3-credit courses and a 1-credit professional-development seminar.
Courses are Selected from (36 hours minimum):
Required:
HDFS 7231: Foundations of Youth Development (1)
HDFS 8234: Adolescents and their Families (3)
HDFS 8235: Administration and Program Management (3)
HDFS 8236: Federal and State Policies that Impact Youth Development (3)
HDFS 8237: Youth Culture (3)
HDFS 8239: Community Youth Development (3)
HDFS 8240: Youth Development (3)
HDFS 8232: Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3)
HDFS 8238: Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation (3)
HDFS 8090: Research Project (2-6)
OR
HDFS 8972: Internship (2-6)
Suggested Electives*:
HDFS 7001: Topics in Contemporary Youth Issues: Substance Use (3)
HDFS 7001: Topics in Contemporary Youth Issues: Global Perspectives (3)
*Or Any Adviser-Approved Course
NOTE: Up to 6 credits can be transferred from other graduate programs if the courses are deemed relevant by your adviser.
Upon Successful Completion of the Youth Development Program:
The student will be able to:
- Understand, integrate, and be able to apply conceptual approaches to youth development (e.g., asset building, positive youth development, community youth development, risk and resiliency).
- Understand normative pathways to development; Understand youth and family
cultural issues/contexts and their micro- and macro-influences on positive youth outcomes. - Understand and apply basic research and evaluation skills to youth development
programming through an applied project that serves as a capstone experience under the direction of the candidate's home institution. - Develop skills in problem-solving with "stakeholders" including funding sources,
boards, other agencies, families and other professionals. - Demonstrate understanding of the development and impact of local, regional, state, federal, and global policies on youth and be able to advocate through policy development for optimal youth outcomes.
- Develop and apply resources (e.g., agency budgeting, grant writing and processing, fund raising) for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations.
- Understand the history of the youth development area and advocate for the
continued professionalization of the field.
© Copyright 2013 - Curators of the University of Missouri. All rights reserved. DMCA and other copyright information. An equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
This page last modified: November 7, 2012 1:13 PM.
Acrobat Reader 
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 
Microsoft Word Viewer